CAW Rallies Activists in NUPC Special Session

March 10, 2011, 11:20 AM EST

The CAW held a massive lobby day on Parliament Hill March 3 as a finale to the three-day National Union in Politics Committees (NUPCs) conference in Ottawa that started March 1.

The NUPC special session included speeches and presentations by CAW President Ken Lewenza, Canadian Doctors for Medicare Chair Dr. Danielle Martin, Canadian Labour Congress Secretary-Treasurer Hassan Yussuff and CAW Economist Jim Stanford.

The union organized approximately 100 lobby appointments with Conservative, Liberal and NDP MPs where local leadership and activists from across the country pressed elected officials on strengthening Medicare, including introducing a national pharmacare program, doubling the Canada Pension Plan and developing a 'good jobs strategy' to end the downward pressure on employment conditions.

Jenny Ahn, director of political action and membership mobilization, said that the goal of the special session was to make the connection between what happens in CAW activists' workplaces, communities and with their families to the work of government. "Our members felt empowered and also saw the connection between our union campaigns and electoral politics," said Ahn.

"Many delegates pledged to meet with the MPs more often now when they return home as they see they value in doing, so I hope this also means more involvement in campaigns, electoral politics and overall better voter turnout!"

Participants also took part in skills building workshops on social media, street theatre, effective lobbying, canvassing and writing letters to the editor and politicians on Wednesday.